How to Prune Native Plants
Many people assume that native plants are easier to care for than more exotic species; however they can be are just as hard to take care of as non-native plants. One of the ways to care for native plants is with pruning.
Items Needed:
- Work gloves
- Pruning shears
- Hack saw
- Start with shaping the plant by picking a shape in your mind you want the plant to be. All the shaping and pruning should be done at the same time because it stresses out the plant, so doing it all at once gives the plant longer to recover and become stronger.
- Figure out which branches and stalks need to be removed in order to create the shape. Keep in mind you need to remove any dead branches and limbs that are crossing one another.
- Put on your work gloves and either use pruning shears or a hack saw depending on the size and thick of the branch you are cutting. For thicker branches use the hack saw for cleaner less stressful cut on the plant.
- Make most of your cuts above the juncture of the branch and make the cut at an angle toward the trunk of the plant.
- Done with pruning step back and evaluate your work. The plant should have the shape you want but the whole plant should be able to access sunlight and air more than when you started. If the plant still looks bunched up or not able to access the sunlight, then prune the plant more.